Chapter 5 - Ecosystem Services, Their Use and the Role of Ecological Engineering: State of the Art

Abstract

This chapter deals with the different perspectives from which the concept of ecosystem services is viewed. It may be from an economist's perspective, that of an environmental scientist or policy analyst, or that of the designers of technologies and physical facilities for society. Engineers tend to work closely with problem solving and design. The EcoSummit Conference is about “integrating the sciences.” The process of integration of effort includes many more players in addition to the scientific community. Institutional and policy frameworks for more sustainable use of ecosystem services are important, if “frontline” obstacles arise at the implementation stage, the credibility of the goals suffers a significant setback. It is important to support innovative engineered projects that demonstrate technological and physical possible sustainable interactions with ecosystem services. Such engineered projects provide very effective feedback to both the policymakers and the scientific community to assist with policy design and research priorities. The critical importance of the interdependence between ecosystems and human development has significant implications for the criteria that engineers and others should use in designing and building physical facilities. Several case studies are presented to illustrate how projects are designed to include ecological criteria that make better use of ecosystem services. There is increasing concern about the overuse of ecosystem services and the case studies presented in the chapter demonstrate that some conventional engineering practices can lead to substantial under-use of ecosystem services, and the loss of the opportunities provides a more sustainable and balanced lifestyle.